1793 Flowing Hair Cent. Chain Reverse. S-3, B-4. Rarity-3-. AMERICA, Without Periods. VF-30 (PCGS). CMQ. OGH.

For the assigned grade, it is difficult for us to imagine a more inviting example of this iconic early U.S. Mint copper type. Smooth during in-hand viewing, the surfaces reveal no sizeable marks or other distracting blemishes. Only under close inspection with a loupe do we see a touch of granularity that is mentioned solely for accuracy. Swirls of faint flint-gray tinting in isolated areas hardly interferes with dominant toning in deep, rich, steely-copper. With universally bold throughout the design, and the expected sharpness at central reverse, we anticipate spirited bidding for this PQ example. Sheldon-3 is the popular Leaning R variety of the issue with the letter R in LIBERTY large and leaning to the right. Both the letters in LIBERTY and the digits in the date are irregular in size and position. This is the only use of this obverse die. On the reverse, the word AMERICA in the legend is spelled out in full, as opposed to abbreviated as AMERI. as on the reverse of the Sheldon-1 variety. The fraction bar in the denomination 1/100 is high and touching the base of the numerator 1, the digits in the denomination are evenly spac]ed, but both 0s are low. The letters MER in AMERICA are high. This is the workhorse reverse of the 1793 Chain cent issue, and it was also used in the S-2, S-4 and NC-1 pairings. Along with S-2 and NC-1, Sheldon-3 corresponds to the AMERICA, Without Periods Guide Book variety of the 1793 Chain cent. This variety is not rare in an absolute sense, with an Estimate:d 401 to 500 coins extant in all grades, but circulated specimens are seldom as problem-free or attractive as that offered here.

PCGS# 1341. NGC ID: 223F.

Estimate: $15000